Nurse Reportedly Reuses Flu Shot Syringe At New Jersey Clinic

Employees at a pharmaceutical company were alerted after a nurse at a New Jersey clinic reportedly reused a syringe while giving them flu shots.

Staff at TotalWellness told NBC News Philadelphia that a nurse who was contracted to administer flu vaccines to employees of Otsuka Pharmaceutical “failed to follow proper medical procedures and safeguards.”

“The needles were changed between each patient but the syringe was reused multiple times,” a New Jersey Department of Health official wrote in a letter to Otsuka Pharmaceutical, according to NBC. “Syringe reuse may have exposed you to infected blood. At this time NJDOH is not aware of any disease transmission, but you may be at risk for developing an infection as a result of this improper practice.”

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The risk for infection is “low,” according to officials, but they are still recommending that employees get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

The nurse also reportedly gave a less-than-recommended dose of the vaccine.

“Receiving less than the recommended amount is not harmful, but you might not be fully protected against the flu,” the letter read. “We are recommending that you get another flu shot this season to ensure that you are completely protected.”

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It is not known whether any disciplinary action was taken against the nurse who administered the vaccines.